Fitchburg State Rallies Past Suffolk, 7-6

Boice and Bamforth provide spark for Falcons non-conference victory

FITCHBURG, Mass. (April 3, 2012) –Fitchburg State rallied in the later innings, scoring a pair of runs in the seventh frame to defeat Suffolk University, 7-6  in non-conference baseball action at Riccards Field this afternoon.

In the bottom of the seventh, junior Jeff Boice (Glastonbury, Conn./Glastonbury) sparked the Falcons comeback, blasting a solo homerun over the left field fence, before sophomore David Mason (Leominster, Mass./Leominster) connected for an RBI double to plate Cody Bamforth (Vernon, Conn./Rockville) for the go-ahead run.

Suffolk opened the game with an early 2-0 lead, using an RBI double from junior Chris Stanley (Placentra, Cali./El Dorado) and a run scoring single by Dan Belanger (Raynham, Mass./Bridgewater-Raynham) in the bottom of the second inning, but Fitchburg State responded with a three-run, third to snag a one run (3-2) advantage. Boice again led the charge with a two run double, narrowly missing a grand slam, while junior Mike Szajner (Leominster, Mass./Leominster) put Fitchburg State on top with a single to left.

The back forth affair continued as Suffolk regained the lead (4-3) in the top of the fourth on a sac fly and RBI single from Devan Jones (Roslindale, Mass./Catholic Memorial). In the fifth, the Rams added to their lead (5-3) with an RBI single by Jhonneris Mendez (Boston, Mass./Boston English), but the Falcons knotted the score again in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI double by Szajner and a run scoring single from Bamforth.

Sophomore Mike Muse (Milton, Mass./Milton) put Suffolk back on top (6-5) in the sixth as he connected for an RBI double down the right field line, but Fitchburg State had the final say in the seventh, using the long ball to take the lead for good.

Boice led the Falcon charge with a double, a homerun, three RBI and a trio of runs scored, while Szajner finished  2-for-4 with a double, one run scored and a pair of RBI. Bamforth was also solid, hitting 3-for-4 with a double and one RBI.

On the hill, senior Frank Yavorosky (Westminster, Mass./Narragansett) picked up the win for Fitchburg State, allowing two earned runs and four hits over 3.0 innings of relief. Junior Zachary Bombria (Bolton, Conn./Bolton) picked up the save pitching two flawless innings, while senior Tim Belanger (Raynham, Mass./Bridgewater-Raynham) suffered the setback for Suffolk, allowing seven runs on 12 hits over 6.1 IP (6 K's).

Fitchburg State (4-14, 0-2 MASCAC) returns to action tomorrow as it hosts Nichols College at 3:30 p.m. Suffolk (5-14-1, 0-2 GNAC) will visit Roger Williams University on Friday at 3:30 p.m.